P l a y E r i e . c o m

Metal Battle Of The Bands @ Sherlocks

Spike T. Punch + The Vultures - May 1

Spike T. Punch

Spike T. Punch and his traveling freak show were out in full-force at Lawrence Parks’ (or is it Lawrenceville or Lawrencetown), well anyway that place by GE, Irish Cousin’s that I’ve never been too before and it’s not listed in the phone book. And we’re talking Spike in all his freak-a-zoid glory…the cape, the horns (on his head), the bizarre guitar tone, rocking with a new drummer, at least one that I’ve never seen, all the while working the crowd (I think he knew everyone in the bar) and being socialable and a generally nice fellow.

The thing I like about Spike, is he is truly original. I mean, like his music or hate it, the guy is (literally) dancing to the beat of his own drum, with his choice of cover tunes (like best of 80’s 1 hit wonders), the guest singers he gets up on stage (Carlos from the Mollies doing a death metal Tommy Tu-Tone), the guitar tone, the strange white-boy funk, the sultry energy of Shelley looking both angry and like a junky at the same time, and of course some cool, rocking originals like “Feed My Monkey”, which, well is not about monkeys, not that it’s subtle or anything, as Shelley pointed out the obvious to a dancing, crazy audience It was hard getting close to the stage and getting a picture. Enough rambling, I’d really like to see a Girls Gone Wild shoot during a Spike show.
photo and review by John Johnston

The Vultures

In between the two Spike sets, the Vultures, like these guys (and gal) haven’t played as a full band in something like 3 years, although Dave and Anne entertain old folk in Florida, but not with Gary Braun who is like a factory worker in Columbus and still the most rockin’ drummer ever, yes I mean ever, to play in Erie. If you don’t believe me ask anyone who’s seen the old My 3 Scum or the Vultures and they’ll know what I mean. But, like they haven’t practiced in three years and they are still as tight as spandex on an overweight Vince Neil. Although it helps to be one of the best guitar players EVER to come out of Erie.

Like surf music with the drummer from the Stooges. Dave is a great guitar player. His tone was weird, coming out of the bizarro Spike rig that he borrowed, something sounded blown, but it gave them a rawer, trashy, 60’s garage feel…and well, probably a lot don’t know this band. They were a surf-rock band that gigged around several years ago and moved away to California and then ended up in Florida. Anyway, Dave and bass-player Anne have this kid and want to show it to the family and blah, blah, blah, so Spike, convinces them to come up and play. So they do and here’s wishing they were still in Erie.

Combining the musicianship of Dick Dale and The Ventures with the trash/surf rock revival of various Estrus bands (Mummies, Trashwomen, Phantom Surfers, etc), this trio rocked through covers like Pipeline and others that I don’t remember the name of and a bunch of originals, that I don’t remember the name of either, but take my word, they were smokin’, like the gun in the hand of a guilty party and if you don’t know what I mean, you, my friend, blew it, really, bad move on your part, should have pushed and went out anyway, lazy %&#^&^&, but anyway, your loss and you’ll have to wait like another three years to find out. Word!

photo & review by John Johnston